EatingWell Interviews CSPI's Michael Jacobson on Food Day

With the launch of the first-ever Food Day, we talk to Center for Science in the Public Interest director about his diet, biggest success and more.

September/October 2011

Michael Jacobson has been called many things—from “hero” to “Food Nazi.” Jacobson, a microbiologist who founded the nonprofit health advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in 1971, prefers “food detective.” CSPI is best known for advocacy on issues like calorie labeling on restaurant menus, or their attention-grabbing efforts (passing out toilet paper printed with the words “ban olestra” in the 1990s). Now the group is hosting Food Day, an “Earth Day” for foodies on October 24, 2011. CSPI hopes to inspire us to collaboratively improve our diets and fix our food system. We talked with Jacobson about what else he’s up to.